“That’s like when you are all confused and running around with your head cut off.”

Yes. Please use it in a sentence.

“The Spartans had a chance to win this game, despite the refs, but they started to discombobulate. Late in the game, the Spartans switched quarterbacks and they had penalties and dropped passes and more bad passes and passes that were behind the receivers and passes that were too high.”

Right! Now, let’s go to an easy word. Let’s go to “frustration.”

“That’s easy. The Spartans had a chance to beat Notre Dame. They had a chance to beat ’em in their own stadium. But they didn’t. They blew it. They had penalties. Dropped passes. More penalties. And they couldn’t get the ball into the end zone when they had some great chances.”

OK, class. That’s good.

Now, I’ll give you my take on this game.

Notre Dame was unable to go through the Spartans’ defense. And the Irish couldn’t go around that defense. So they were left with only one option: Go over the top of it.

Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees repeatedly threw long passes to wide receivers, running down the sideline against man-to-man coverage. Most were incomplete.

That’s when the refs started helping the Irish.

At times, it felt as if Notre Dame’s best offense was to throw the ball and hope for a defensive pass inference.

And what happens when you throw it up for grabs?

“Pass interference!”

Yes, class. You got that right.

In the second quarter, it felt as if Michigan State was playing two games.

One against Notre Dame.

And the other was against the refs.

Darqueze Dennard was called for holding. Five plays later, Notre Dame kicked a field goal to take a 3-0 lead.

But the worst call was in the second quarter. Although it’s kind of hard to pick which one was the worst.

Notre Dame faced a fourth-and-1 from the 41. Rees lofted a pass to the sideline. Wide receiver T.J. Jones and Spartans cornerback Trae Waynes were pushing and slapping and touching each other. Looking like kids in a sand box.

But what happened?

“Pass interference!”

That’s right, class.

“It was stupid.”

That’s right, Johnny. It was a horrible call.

Six plays later, Rees threw a beautiful pass to Jones into the back of the end zone for a touchdown, giving Notre Dame a 10-7 lead.

Repeat after me, “Pathetic call! Pathetic call!”

Nice job, class.

Let’s move on.

Can you use the word “scattered” in a sentence?

“The Spartans’ offense controlled the line of scrimmage. They outplayed Notre Dame. They looked stronger and tougher. But this offense still feels like a puzzle that has been spilled on the ground and all the pieces are scattered.”

Wow. That’s right.

Can you elaborate?

“Well, at times, it seems to fit together. Like you are putting together the puzzle on your floor. And you can see it start to take shape. But other times, it’s like your dog ran through the room and busted the puzzled apart. Into a big old mess.”

That’s right.

Now, here comes another phrase. Can everybody say, “A trick that came back to bite me in the fanny.”

Can somebody use it in a sentence?

“The Spartans were moving the ball, but they tried to have a wide receiver throw a pass. But it came back and bit them in the fanny.”

That’s right.

Now, I love trick plays, but there is a time and a place.

Granted, it’s easy to second-guess a trick play when it doesn’t work.

But the Spartans didn’t need it at that time.

OK, class.

Final word. Can you say “resilient”?

“That Spartans’ defense was so resilient. They were awesome. But that offense just needs to make some plays.”